Following the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war in 2009, General Sarath Fonseka, who had been the Army Commander during the war, contested the January 26, 2010, presidential election as the common opposition candidate. Many activists who were opposing to the war and the Rajapaksa family dominance joined his campaign. Among them was Prageeth Eknaligoda, a writer, journalist, cartoonist, and social activist who maintained connections with various media organizations, trade unions, civil society groups, and political parties.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who sought reelection, ultimately won the election. The opposition campaign focused on themes such as human rights violations, corruption, and nepotism under the Rajapaksa regime.
During the campaign, it was reported that Senior Superintendent of Police D.L.R. Ranaweera obtained eight search warrants from Magistrate Thilina Gamage to confiscate a controversial book that allegedly detailed the Rajapaksa family involved in the governance. The book, attributed to Prageeth Eknaligoda, was reportedly ordered for seizure at the behest of the Rajapaksa family. When Ranaweera attempted to inspect the Sirikotha (UNP headquarters) office, he was met with strong opposition from its members and had to retreat.
Prageeth’s Disappearance
On January 25, 2010, Prageeth Eknaligoda disappeared after leaving to meet an individual. A key witness in the investigation, Nandana Weeraratne, stated that a few days before his disappearance, Prageeth had been abducted in a white van, taken to a location in Kaduwela, and later released, with the abductors claiming it was a mistake.
On the day of his disappearance, Prageeth went to meet someone who had formerly worked with the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) but later collaborated with military intelligence. This individual is also one of the accused in the court case concerning Prageeth’s disappearance.
The Attorney General filed 17 charges against seven accused individuals, including abduction, illegal detention, and murder of Prageeth Eknaligoda. The accused are officers from the Giritale Army Camp:
- Lieutenant Colonel Shammi Arjuna Kumararatne,
- R.M.P.K. Rajapaksa (also known as Nadan),
- Vinee Priyantha Dilanjan Upasena (aka Suresh),
- S.M. Ravindra Rupasena (aka Ranji),
- Y.M. Chaminda Kumara Abeyratne,
- S.M. Kanishka Gunaratne,
- Aiyyasamy Balasubramaniam,
- D.G. Tharanga Prasad Gamage, and
- T.E.R. Peiris.
The trial is ongoing before a three-judge bench at the Colombo High Court.
Prageeth’s Personal Life
Prageeth, a former JVP activist, met his wife Sandhya Eknaligoda in 1989. At the time, Prageeth was illustrating for the magazine Sinesith. Sandhya, then working in the women’s division of a trade union, developed a relationship with him, and they married in 1992. The couple has two sons.
In a media interview, Sandhya revealed that Prageeth had kept the ashes of Nandasena Silva, a leftist activist brutally killed by the JVP in 1988, in their home for ten years. Prageeth later scattered the ashes in the Kaluganga River in 1998, as he was unable to find Silva’s family to hand them over.
Remembering Prageeth
Prominent figures such as Raja Uswetakeiyawa, a former leader of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, were among Prageeth’s close associates. Raja described him as “a meticulous and unrelenting worker with a sharp wit and political satire.” He emphasized Prageeth’s ability to see the deeper layers of issues and his fearless commitment to his ideals, even during dangerous times.
Sandhya’s Fight for Justice
Sandhya Eknaligoda continues her unwavering struggle to uncover the truth and seek justice for her husband’s disappearance.
(Featured Image: A portrait of Prageeth alongside a group of progressive individuals who were killed.)
